President John Dramani Mahama has proclaimed Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, as National General Cleaning Days in the seven regions impacted by the catastrophic floods of June 29, which resulted in approximately 13 fatalities and the destruction of over 7,000 homes. This initiative aims to enhance sanitation and mitigate the risk of future flooding.
The two-day event, organized by the Post-Flood Mitigation Committee, will operate under the theme “Our Actions, Our Future: Cleaning Ghana after the floods.” The initiative seeks to engage citizens in cleaning their neighborhoods, protecting the environment, and ensuring safety in the aftermath of the recent calamity.
In a statement released on Monday, July 6, government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu characterized the cleanup as a vital national effort and encouraged all Ghanaians to take part actively.
As part of this initiative, President Mahama has instructed all government officials, including Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Chief Executive Officers of state agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and heads of public institutions, to vacate their offices and personally lead cleanup efforts in their communities.
The operation will be executed in phases to ensure effective coordination. On Friday, personnel from the security services, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), and waste management companies will commence the operation, while the public will join the cleanup on Saturday.
According to the statement, the cleanup will prioritize desilting clogged drains to facilitate the free flow of water before the rainy season, removing sand, weeds, and debris from roads and highways, and cleaning public areas such as markets, bus stations, recreational parks, and communal waste collection sites.
To facilitate operations, all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies have been instructed to collaborate with waste management companies to supply logistics, which include waste trucks, gloves, shovels, and various cleaning tools.
Additionally, they have been mandated to guarantee the prompt removal of all collected refuse and silt to avert the risk of waste being washed back into drainage systems.
The government has urged citizens to exhibit community spirit by participating in the initiative, emphasizing that maintaining a cleaner environment is crucial for safeguarding lives and mitigating future flood disasters.
